Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-05
Another Account.

TIFFIN, o., January AT 2 O'Clock
this morning the west bound fast train,
known as the Erie Express on the B. & o.
road cOllided with freight train, one mile
west of Republic, The express does not
make stop at the town of Republic, a
village of 9OOpeOple four miles west of this
city, and it is supposed was running at a
speed of not less than 60 miles an hour. A
freight eastward bound, had expected to
make siding at Republic, and was prob
ably making rate of speed not less than
20 miles per hour and thus running in
opposite directions on the same track,
caused telescope rs clean cut and diSas-
trOus rs has ever been witnessed in this
section OF the country. The engines were
run into each other rs one stOvepipe fits
into its mate, and all that could be seen
was one chaotic mass of brass, iron and
steel. At an early hour there were
hundreds OF people coming to the scene to
disaster ready and anxious Of
do what they could for any of the unfor-
tunate sufferers who might need help, but
it appears that just as soon as the Balti-
more and Ohio agents could get to the
place where the accident occurred, for
some reason they were behOOved to hastily
carry out of the county the wounded,
dying and dead. Your correspondent was
only permitted TO see four persons that had
escaped the awful holocaust in which it is
believed there were at least twenty-five
bodies burned into
\ SICKENING, CRISPY MASS OF FLESH AND
BONES,
beyond all possible recognition. From
the report of survivor, it would appear
that number of the unfortunates were
not only swallowed up in the wrath of the
awful fiery furnace, but that their bodies
were so perfectly incinerated that their
ashes could not be gathered from the de-
bris. The sight was sickening and most
forbidding to witness. There should be
instituted thorough investigation, which
we doubt not will be done through
the medium of the inquest to be held by
Coroner Lepper. Those who were saved
from the wreck remaining in Republic
were a mother with three little ones hardly
out Of swaddling clothes, the husband and
father of the childaen with two SONS hav-
ing been devOured by the wrathful flames
of the burning cars. In some way that
even this mother was unable to relate she
got ont of the car in which she had beer
travelling and wandering away from the
burning train, carrying her two youngest
children in her arms entered the first house
in which she found light. She was al
most
CRAZED WITH FEAR
and with difficulty it was ascertained that
her name was Mrs. Mary POstlethwaite
The family were on their road to Missouri
and expected to find home in Chillicothe
ofthat State. They have been living neal
the town of Belton, Wetzel county, w. Va,
Her husband, VIM. Postlethwaite, wls Sc
years of age and the sons killed with him
were aged Is and IL.
The agents Of the Baltimore and Ohio
endeayOred TO take care of the mother and
children by sending them to Chicago
Junction, where the company have hotel
On advice, however, Of her friends, who
were telegraphed, she consented to remain
in Republic until she should her from hel
son, who remained IN West Virginia. II
was
PITIFUL SIGHT
to see the poor woman now breaking forti
in the wailing tones of her awful grief
and, then, to see her little boys, not ovel
four years of age, endeavoring to comfort
her with the words: 20, mamma, don't
cry! don't cryn' and Mamma, I'll get
papaw little realizing the terrible and al
most desperate grief of his sanguish-stricker
and desolate mamma. Postlethwait had OIL
bis person 5000 in money, draft for $500
q government check for SIS, and note O
$3.50, besides tickets end money for imme
diate use. With one swfll stroke, all thai
the woman had in the world to support hel
was swept from the face of the earth, anC
she left with her fatherless children amons
strangers.
At the Mansion House, in Republic, wa!
found
ANOTHER VICTIM
who had refused to be removedrfrom the
county. His name was Smith. He wa
injured but very little, but says he doe:
not care to repeat his last nights expert
ence. 1t is related of one Bradley, prom
inent Knight of Labor from Washington
d. c., who, while the flames were bursting
from the car window, which had beer
broken in the crash of the collision, tha
he, by some means put on
| his hand threw his watch ant
peeketbook to those whom he could
see on the outside. He was pinned on tn,
inside, and was being roasted alive
but those who saw him were unable I,
render him the least possible relief. They
could hear the frenzied and horror stricken
man rs he madly endeayored to burs
the barriers that held him in his. fer
prison.
The charred remains of the expires
messenger consisted simply of the two
thigh bones, which were found in The